americans are feeling the loss. >> from ohio and here at this time is overwhelming. >> reporter: at the embassy in washington hundreds are coming to pay their respects. >> i'm not sure obama would be president without mandela. >> everybody has united today. >> reporter: uniting his nation after apartheid was his mission. when he brought his white jailers to his presidential inauguration in 1994 colin powell was there. >> he said let's reach out and show love and reconciliation. he kind of reminds me in the experience of the united states he's our washington and our lincoln and martin luther king all rolled in one. >> hillary clinton was at the inauguration struck by how mandela managed two lives at once. >> a lawyer and a freedom fighter. a prisoner and a leader. a man of anger and of forgiv >> there was no contradiction in what he stood for. >> the idea that every single human ought to be free and oppression can end and justice prevail. >> reporter: the white house announced president obama will go to south africa joining world leaders and south africans for the funeral of nelson mande